This was a heavy reading month with books that were all worth the time!

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand | 5 of 5 stars

This is perhaps one of the best books I’ve read all year. I couldn’t put it down. Reading this on the tails of the Bonhoeffer biography by Metaxes was simply superb timing. Bonhoeffer’s biography deals with the German side of WWII, while Hillenbrand’s account of Louis Zamperini focuses in on the Japanese and Pacific side of the war. I was enraptured as story after story of Louis’ life unfolded in great detail. Most of the time I couldn’t believe what I was reading let alone believe that all of this happened to one man! This biography walks you through his early years, his attempts at becoming an Olympiad, and his subsequent enlistment into the Air Force as a bombadier. Louis and his crew crash into the Pacific and spend a record setting 40+ days adrift in the ocean before being captured by the Japanese and imprisoned in Japanese concentration camps. His journey through hell, and his eventual rescue once again are incredible. The remainder of his story is a post-war story of redemption, one which I wasn’t completely expecting but wish more time had been given. If you are interested in WWII this is a must read, especially in learning more about the Pacific battles that were waged. But more than that, this is an amazing book well worth your time.

Junia Is Not Alone
by Scot McKnight | 4 of 5 stars

This is a short e-book that took me about 10 minutes to read. So the scope is rather limited, more of a teaser than an in-depth look at Junia the lost female apostle honored by Paul in Romans 16.7 McKnight lays out a quick history of how Junia has been written out of Scripture to reinforce a male dominated understanding of leadership within the church. He goes into detail about the changes to the Greek manuscripts and even touches upon textual criticism. This is a good teaser I just wish it went further. I wish that a work as important as this was given more than an essay length (or 3-part blog series length) and made a stronger case for Junia. I suppose, however, that this will have to do for now until someone with enough moxie and the scholarly credentials (like McKnight) can add to the world of scholarship a definitive piece on Junia and the true role of women in leadership.

Insurrection: To Believe is Human To Doubt, Divine
by Peter Rollins | 3.5 of 5 stars

For a great treatment of Insurrection and a very thorough understanding of what is taking place throughout the book check out Dr. Kirk’s two-part review on his blog. Be sure to also check out the comments section. (Part 1)(Part 2).

My only comment on this book other than, I enjoyed it, was it was definitely written in his voice… I couldn’t read it without hearing it like he was in the room reading it to me. His Irish was just so strong.

Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero
by Chris Matthews | 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I’m a fan of the Kennedy’s and their family–America’s first royal family if you will.
Biographies have captured my attention as of late–Metaxes did such a brilliant job with Bonhoeffer and Hillenbrand with Unbroken that I haven’t been able to get enough of them! Enter the biography of one of my fascinations… JFK. Matthews does a great job of walking us through the political rise of JFK, from how he first one his Congressional District to the difficult Senate race against Henry Cabot Lodge. I felt as if I was getting a sneak peak behind the curtain of a brilliant politician who organized a truly independent political party outside of the traditional Democratic machine. This wasn’t a biographical sketch of JFK’s infidelities (although it is present), rather it is a sketch about the “elusive hero” the man behind what we have all come to learn through legend. Matthews climaxes the story not with his assassination but with the Cuban Missile Crisis and how JFK tiptoed through one of the most precarious incidents that our country faced during the Cold War. To get a brief glimpse behind a time in our countries history not 50 years ago was not only amazing but surprising to see how far we have come in such a short period of time. The struggle for Civil Rights, the “secret” relationship JFK had with Nixon pre-presidential run, and the role that Bobby played–and perhaps should have really played in the administration was fascinating.

I learned a few things about leadership, about history, and about the central importance of a strong team. I really enjoyed this biographical sketch and the scope that Matthews presented his research in. If you’re a political junkie, a closet Kennedy fan (I’m really looking for a good biography on Bobby… the Kennedy brother I’m most fascinated with), or looking for a good brief history of Kennedy’s political career this would hit the mark.

Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters
by NT Wright | 4 of 5 stars

NT Wright has a really big idea that he’s continuing to promote through his writings and his lectures. It’s an idea that is so large that he hasn’t been able to fit it all into one book. As a result, some of his books can feel like they’re redundant however I would argue that he’s simply refining and diving deeper into this grand new vision of Jesus and this idea of New Creation. This is what Simply Jesus is about. Sure, there are themes that have emerged in The Challenge of Jesus and Surprised by Hope, a strong treatment in The New Testament and the People of God and others, however now it feels that what Wright is bringing to the table is not only a narrowing and refining some of his thoughts in Simply Jesus (making them more laser focused than before) but he is making them much more accessible to the masses–taking them outside of the realm of scholarship where his arguments and his scholarship have held up to scrutiny of his colleagues.

This is a good introduction to Wright’s thought and his understanding on Jesus. This should very well be considered a foundational text for the masses in understanding New Creation.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
by Eric Metaxes | 4 of 5 stars

This book was packed. Absolutely packed. There was a tremendous amount of research and information into the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, perhaps one of the more intriguing and brilliant theologians of the 20th century. This biographical sketch of Bonhoeffer’s life, travels, theology, and plot against Hitler started slowly but Metaxes gave little snippets of foreshadowing that keeps you engaged throughout the beginning. I was riveted throughout, in fact, it was such an interesting journey that I have decided to read a biographical sketch of some sort every month.

If there is a knock on this book it would be two-fold. First, there was simply more information and more rabbit-trails with than necessary. At points it felt like there wasn’t an editor involved in keeping the author on point. Even though the characters involved were interesting, there addition to the story didn’t feel critical and simply felt like more information and names to keep straight. The second knock would be part of the title, specifically the inclusion of the designation “Spy”. I don’t feel as if the story/information presented completely fleshed this part of Bonhoeffer’s life out completely.

Overall this is a really compelling biographical sketch of Bonhoeffer and left me wanting to read more of Bonhoeffer’s work and revisit the movie Valkyrie once again (the plot Bonhoeffer was involved in.)

On the Incarnation
by St. Athanasius | 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating book written c.300 AD. It takes a close look at the Incarnation of Jesus and its implications for our lives. It was recently labeled #1 by Renovare on the list of 25 Books Every Christian Must Read. I think perhaps what was most interesting about this book is how much of what we consider cliche’s today are found within. (For example the cliche that the only way Jesus could die with his arms outstretched was upon the cross). After reading and reflecting on this work, it felt like a very foundational text for the Christian Faith and the implications of the Incarnation within our own lives. Definitely deserves a read.

Theology Remixed: Christiantiy as Story, Game, Language, Culture
by Adam C. English | 2.5 of 5 stars

If there’s a book to skip, this one would probably be it. However, there are a few segments within that are really good. Perhaps the struggle more than anything with this book is the structure that’s laid out. Each part of the book explains Christianity as a story, then as a game, then as a language, then as a culture. The story section of the book is very good. In fact, I’d recommend reading that section for sure. The rest, however, you could do without. I wish the author would have narrowed in on that analogy for the scope of the book and used the others supplementally instead of as a major focus. It would’ve made for a stronger understanding fo Christianity (in my opinion.)

A good month of reading with some pretty rock star books this time around…

God in a Brothel
by Daniel Walker | 4 of 5 stars

This past month, Daniel Walker visited IKON as our very first guest speaker while touring the United States on his Anti-Trafficking Tour. In his book, he chronicles his journey as an undercover, “Jason Bourne-esque” agent who collected enough incriminating evidence on pimps and brothel owners to shut down several throughout Southeast Asia, Latin America, and even the United States. This book tells the stories of women and children who were captured, kidnapped, and sold by their families into sexual slavery exposing one of the darkest and most profitable industries in the world today. If you haven’t yet been exposed to the horrors of sex trafficking this book is a great place to start in learning more about its scope and how you can even get involved.

Damned
by Chuck Palahniuk | 3.5 of 5 stars

Palahniuk, author of books turned into movies (Choke + Fight Club) has released his brand new epic tale of Madison Spencer, a 13-year old girl who overdoses on marajuana and finds herself “damned” to hell. Palahniuk takes you on a tour of hell, through the eyes of a 13 year old, depicting several possible realities for what the “damned” may experience in the afterlife. True to form, Palahniuk creeps you out, grosses you out, and carries you along as a story unfolds with several hidden gems and insights about life, death, and how our culture views the world. The story ends with this simple line: To be continued…. Word on the street is that this is the first in a Trilogy taking you from Hell to Purgatory to Heaven. Should be an interesting commentary on salvation… he’s certainly added his two cents to the conversation already.

The End of Sexual Identity
by Jenell Williams Paris | 4 of 5 stars

Jenell Williams Paris, a professor for Messiah’s College does a tremendous job of walking you through the nuances of sexual identity, how it came to be understood in todays culture and how important it is for us to move beyond narrowing and defining ourselves solely around our sexual preference. This is a fascinating look at how sexuality has been understood throughout the centuries as well as into other cultures from around the world. If you’re looking for a primer on sexual identity, the “gay question”, the challenges of sexuality in marriage and even what true celibacy pertains to, this would be a great read.

Another slim reading month… but a good book to read in a slim month nonetheless!

A Praying Life
by Paul E. Miller | 3 of 5 stars

I started reading this book in the midst of a prayer funk. Prayer became a chore, was difficult to enter into, was hard to find the time for, was no fun, rote… the list could go on and on. Paul Miller’s perspective on prayer helped to pull me out of that funk. His nonchalant approach, his ease of entry, and list of ideas helped to create some fresh ways of not only approaching but engaging God in conversation in different settings and even more frequently. If you’re in a funk and you’re looking for an easy read with some helpful ideas to generate and reinvigorate your prayer life, this is a good beginning point.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen | 2 of 5 stars

So there’s a cult that has emerged from this book… not necessarily a religious cult, but the GTD cult: the “Getting Things Done” cult. Now, I know a lot of people who recommended this book to me and fawn over the process and the ideas within… but did I really have to read 267 pages when a mere 50 probably would’ve done it for me? Sure there are some really good principles in this book, some things that I’ve even incorporated into my own workflow that has really helped me to minimize my stress and increase my productivity. But seriously 267 pages was pure overkill. My recommendation? Find a cliff notes version somewhere… or an audio file that you can speed up and hear everything in an 40 minute block. Because this book will bore the tar out of you and it’ll take you over a month to finish it. In fact, that’s what happened. I started this in July and didn’t finish until the end of August. It was the only book I read this month because it was so painful… it took the joy out of reading.

I’ll say it again… find a shorter version!

So… it’s almost October… but this is what I read in July! (You can follow my reading on Goodreads if you’d like.)

Not A Fan: Completely. Committed. Follower
by Kyle Idleman | 3 of 5 stars

This book started off slow for me but picked up some steam about 40% of the way through. Idelman is a very laser-focused writer proposing the question are you a follower of Jesus or merely a fan. His writing style is story driven, and he does a great job at telling stories and sharing stories from the people of Southeast Christian Church who have left fandom to become completely committed followers of Jesus. This will no doubt be an inspiring book for many who are either new to their faith and hopefully a book that will make many others take pause and evaluate their “standing with Jesus”. The question we all need to ask ourselvs: Are we simply a fan of Jesus or truly his followers?

A Walk Through The Bible
by Lesslie Newbigin | 5 of 5 stars

This is a tremendous little book that places the story arc of the Bible into about 70 pages. Walter Wangerin produced a similar book several years ago entitled “The Book of God: The Bible as a Novel” which was very good as well, but a much longer read with many more narrative liberties taken. Newbigin, however simply presents the the narrative arc of the Bible in an accessible way. It’s a good primer for anyone wanted to see Narrative Theology in action, and a great resource for anyone who is new to the Bible and wanting to see how the story of Scripture plays out in order to give a solid framework for understanding.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni | 4 of 5 stars

This is a great leadership book that starts with a fable of a leader stepping into a difficult situation charged with the task of turning a team around. There are several tremendous principles for teamwork within this parable and in the application sections that follow along with a great survey you can take to assess the strength or dysfunction of your team. This is a great read for anyone who is starting a team–helps you to see the pitfalls that can occur–or for anyone that is currently looking to improve a your team. You’ll definitely walk away with some good insights and things to chew on for the future… it combo’s nicely with Sticky Teams a book the IKON staff walked through for a staff retreat last year.

My reading started just like May… lackluster… but then picked up steam towards the end. I hope I’m back on track and believe that I’m working to carve out an ample amount of time for learning/reading in my schedule going forward.

Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure
by Tavis Smiley | 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading Tavis’ take on life as well as his stories of 20 years in broadcasting. He opens up a window to see into some of the epic failures he experienced and was responsible for, as well as the grace and way in which he was able to overcome himself in the process. I learned a few things from Tavis that were good to hear, but overall many of the things that Tavis presented were lessons that I learned from my own Father… which was good to see my Dad’s wisdom on display through Tavis (even though they’ve never met it makes all these truths universal.) For those that have an absentee Father Tavis’ wisdom comes across as very fatherly for the masses. And even though it is not a replacement for your Father, it is certainly full of good lessons that everyone needs to hear.

Note To Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself
by Joe Thorn | 2 of 5 stars

Perhaps my disappointment with this book stems more from misplaced expectations than anything else. When I first heard of this book and read the title, I completely expected it to be a book about the art of preaching and the internal struggle of preaching the message to oneself before unleashing it on a congregation. And although the argument could still be made that this is what the book does, it was not my experience. Rather, Note to Self is purely a book of devotions stemming from “love your husband” to “stop complaining” to “don’t be a fan boy.”

I did find myself enjoying pieces of the book as I went through. Several times there were aha moments that peaked my curiosity, however when it was said and done it wasn’t what I was looking for. (PS-I’m not a big fan of devotional books…)